“Yes. I did what I had to do so I could save myself. I didn’t want to be a criminal or be sold in marriage to some loser.”
“How did you get away?” Lois asked, a thread of impatience in her tone now.
My boss did not like long, drawn-out stories. She told me once that she never watched a movie that was longer than ninety minutes because she got too bored sitting still for so long.
“I waited until they were both out of town for a few days on a job, then I bought a used Toyota Corolla with cash and headed towards Canada.”
“Why Canada?” I asked.
“I was born there. I was six weeks premature, and my parents were both in Canada at the time, working some job I’m sure. Since I was born on Canadian soil, I automatically have dual citizenship. I’d already gotten a Canadian passport, so I headed to Quebec, where I changed my name and started my new life. I’ve been hiding out ever since.”
Just then Martha knocked on the door. Like me, my coworker was half shifter and half vamp. Unlike me, her inner being had melded into something unique that incorporated both creatures. I’d never seen her in her shifted state, but apparently it was so horrifying that her mate passed out the first time she saw Martha shift.
“Lois, I have an update on the guys we picked up.”
When she paused Lois gestured at her impatiently. “Well? Do you want us to give you a golden invitation to share or are you going to tell us what’s going on?”
Martha winced before she caught herself. It was hard not to be intimidated by Lois, especially when she was in her alpha wolf mode – which was basically always.
“Those two guys are freelancers. They work for the highest bidder, and right now the highest bidder is the Rossi family. They’re Italian mafia who have put a hefty price tag on Hazel’s head. Their orders are to bring her in alive.”
“For what purpose?” I asked, even though I had a bad feeling I knew the answer.
“The O’Brians are rumored to have double crossed the Italians on some big deal that they partnered on.”
“There’s no honor among thieves,” Hazel muttered.
“They plan to use Hazel for leverage to get their stolen goods back from the O’Brians.”
“We’ve got another problem,” Wanda called from the other end of the table.
We all turned to look at her.
“Word is out on the dark web about the retrieval efforts. Colm O’Brian is offering to double the price for anyone who brings Hazel to him first. Every mercenary bounty hunter in the country is gunning for Hazel now.”
My mate dropped her head to the table and tapped her forehead against the surface a few times.
“I’m never going to get away from them,” she said softly. “I might as well turn myself in and let them kill me now.”
“That’s one option,” Wanda said wryly.
Hazel inhaled sharply, and I sensed a flash of fear and helplessness wash over her.
I heard a howling noise the instant before I fell off my chair. My entire body felt like it was on fire. Instinctively I rolled to my hands and knees, gasping in pain. It felt like my skin was tearing off and my bones were breaking. What was happening?
Hazel gasped in shock, jumping away from me like she was afraid.
I looked down to see my hands turning into paws, covered with thick fur and ending with sharp claws. My face seemed to expand, and I could suddenly smell everything in the building, and everything outside too.
Holy shit. For the first time in my life, I was turning into a wolf. I didn’t even know that was possible.
I can’t believe you let that creature take control, my vamp grumbled in irritation.
Must protect mate,the wolf said, her entire focus on Hazel.
Why she came out now and not earlier when we were actually in danger, I had no idea.
Because she’s a simple creature,my vamp snapped.
